Good Mental Health of Citizens an Essential Part of Viksit Bharat, says Pravati Parida, Deputy CM at ‘Illness To Wellness’ Summit

Bhubaneshwar, 7 May, 2025:“Mental Health plays a crucial role in an individual’s overallwell-being and directly impacts their ability to not only handle life’s challenges but also to contribute positively to society. As we work towards building a Viksit Bharat, the good mental health of citizens has to be an essential part of this journey. A mentally resilient population is essential for a healthier, stronger nation,” said Smt. PravatiParida, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Odisha, at the Illness to Wellness Awareness Summit on Mental Health & Wellness.

The Deputy Chief Minister attended the summit as the chief guest. The summit was organized at the ITC Welcomhotel, Bhubaneswar, by the Illness to Wellness Foundation. The Foundation has been actively promoting healthy living and also raising awareness about mental and brain health across the country.

Talking about the rising and worrying prevalence of mental health issues among the youth, Smt. PravatiParida said, “A worrying trend that we are seeing today is the rise of mental disorders among our students and youth. A recent study in February 2025 by researchers from NIMHANS and other global universities revealed that 1 in 10 students had suicidal thoughts in 2024, and shockingly,over a third of such students reportedly attempted to end their lives. We cannot let this situation prevail and should take decisive action through including early intervention strategies focused on addressing anxiety, stress, and behavioural issues in students. This has to be our top priority.”

The Deputy Chief Minister also praised the Illness to Wellness Summit and added, “Along with such a commendable initiative, other stakeholders, including the government, industry, educators and parents,must come together to combat this growingchallenge.”

The summit was attended by a diverse group of participants – healthcare professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists; social workers; educators, including teachers, counsellors and administrators; industry leaders and corporate professionals responsible for workplace wellness; social workers; parents; students; researchers; caregivers; life and wellness coaches,etc.

Speaking at the summit and highlighting thegovernment’sinitiatives, the Guest of Honour, Mr. Manoj Ahuja, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha, said, “While mental health concerns have been affecting urban populations and students, it’s now reaching into rural and tribal communities as well. Clearly, we need to have stronger mental health support systems within our society and education spaces and have more open conversations around emotional well-being.”

“The government is well aware and cognisant of the growing mental health issues and challenges in Odisha. The government is tackling the issue in a systematic manner as we are focusing on three key areas – building capacity for early screening, raising awareness within communities, and ensuring prompt intervention at healthcare facilities. As physical activity can have a powerful impact for managing mental health issues, especially among children and adolescents, the Odisha government hasintroduced traditional and indigenous games into government schools. Students are encouraged to engage in these games daily as part of their school routine, and 75 traditional games have been identified for this initiative,”Mr. Ahuja added
Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairman, Advisory Council, Illness to Wellness Foundation, during his address said, “Mental health challenges differ across the age spectrum. For students and the youth, extreme competition and peer pressure are resulting in depression, while for the elderly, a rise in loneliness has emerged as a significant concern. India therefore, has a twin challenge – guiding our young population towards a healthier and more balanced path, and at the same time, developing an effective ecosystem for the older population. Our Honourable Prime Minister has taken the lead in prioritising mental health and in line with his vision, the government has introduced impactful initiatives such as Tele MANAS and the Atal VayoAbhyudayYojana (AVYAY). The government of Odisha has also been alive to the issue, their active involvement in this summit is highly encouraging, and I am sure this will pave the way for many more engagements that will continue to spotlight this vital issue of national importance.”
As part of the summit, a panel discussion was held on the theme ‘Elevating Minds: Strengthening Awareness of Mental and Brain Health.’ The discussion focused on solutions to the growing mental health crisis in India. Various key issues were deliberated upon, including recognising early signs of common mental health conditions for early intervention, breaking stigma through open dialogue, exploring the mind-body connection and how physical activity impacts brain health, effective ways to manage stress, anxiety, and depression, and strengthening mental health through mindfulness, social support, and professional help.
The ‘Illness to Wellness’ campaign was introduced in 2014 and remains committed to promoting health and well-being through empowering, educating, collaborating and adopting sustainable health practices. Over the years, it has aimed to maximise outreach and impact, from organising camps and awareness campaigns to holding regular webinars on key health topics and developments. The initiative has been covering a wide range of topics such as nutrition, mental health, managing chronic diseases, and new healthcare technologies with the clear purpose of raising awareness and providing motivation and remedies.